Sierra Leone President announces free education

Sierra Leone’s new President Julius Maada Bio on Thursday announced the introduction of free education for both primary and secondary school age children, in line with a major campaign pledge.

President Bio told the state opening of parliament, “Free education will be introduced effective September 2018 for all primary and secondary schools to improve access to quality education,”.

He also announced a near doubling from 11 to 20 percent of the education sector’s annual budgetary allocation.

He said, “Free university education will be provided for three children of every school teacher with ten years experience,”, adding that a student loan scheme would be introduced as well as special incentives for science and rural based teachers.